Epilogue

A year later

I swam through the cool water and smiled up at the boat that was anchored close by. My girl waved at me, and I could have sworn I caught a glimpse of her ring catching the bright sun, making it sparkle.

"Come on, Mr. Hot Stuff, I need you to put more sunscreen on me!" she called out with a smile in her voice, and I chuckled.

I swam to the boat and climbed the ladder on the side. My feet didn't stop until I was right in front of my beautiful kitten.

"There's my hot husband," she pouted adorably, and I laughed. It shocked me how right we were for one another. It wasn't to say that things had been all rainbows and butterflies. We had our disagreements and issues, but we knew how to talk them through.

"Does my wife need me?" I asked, pulling her as close as I could manage. She smiled brighter, and her eyes danced with joy.

"Yes. It's hot." She winked. Her hand moved from my chest and rested on top of her quickly growing bump.

Karol and I had moved into a small beach house close to the shop a month after I was supposed to leave. That first morning, she had woken up with a ring on her finger. One I had slipped on while she'd been asleep. The surprised look didn't change her answer. She had taken one look at it and sealed the promise of our forever with a kiss that turned hot and wild in the blink of an eye.

And even though her parents had offered to throw a big wedding, my woman hadn't wanted one. We had a small ceremony in the backyard of her childhood home. Where Abel had been my best man and her sister Abby her maid of honor.

Two months later, we found out we were expecting. Out litter girl, Estrella, Esti, would be making her appearance into the world any moment, and I couldn't wait.

"Come on, Mrs. Hot Stuff." I kissed her and led her to the long plush bench seat at the end of the boat. I rubbed sunscreen all over her golden tanned body.

"Are you really getting hard?" she asked with wonder in her voice. I shook my head, unable to believe she somehow still didn't understand the effect she had one me.

"Touching you. Breathing the same air. Hell, you don't even have to be around. All I gotta do is think about you and"—I reached for her hand, and she stroked me, biting her lip— "and this happens. Shit," I hissed and removed her hand from my cock.

"Hey!" Her brows bunched. I loved that look on her face. She was like a cute little kitten all worked up. "I wanted?—"

"I know what you wanted," I chuckled. "But we can't. Not here."

"Why?" she pouted. I pointed at the other boats nearby. "Oh, right." She blushed, but I understood. Whenever I was close to her, the world disappeared for me, too. Even a year later, the draw toward her hadn't faded, not in the least. If anything, it was stronger. Especially now, seeing her heavy and round with my baby growing inside of her.

"Come here." She patted her stomach.

"What if I hurt you or our little star?"

"Dan." She rolled her eyes, but the happiness never faded from them. I sighed and got comfortable lying down next to her. Stretching my body out on the hot bench seat, wishing I had grabbed a towel. But the moment I rested my head on her stomach and my girl stretched against her mommy's belly, any discomfort melted away. I grinned up at Karol, both of us sharing a moment I doubted either of us would ever forget.

Just looking at her, I couldn't stop the immense feeling of gratitude.

Life was crazy.

One moment, you're jumping into dark waters off the coast of a third world country, and the next, you're walking away from the only life you have ever known trying to figure out your next step, and suddenly, a star shoots through the night sky and changes the course of your entire life.

Did I know how silly it was to think wishing on a shooting star might have been somehow responsible for meeting Karol? Maybe. Did it stop me from believing it? Hell no.